I can only speak to our particular experience as we did this last year, during the (sort of) sweet spot pandemic-wise. (July, 2021)
We flew with our daughter to CGA and arrived a few days early to let her adjust to the three hour time difference. Drop off was brief and early on Monday AM with the gear that they'll need for CGA (they'll send you packing lists) and then a few hours later we were able to return to witness the swearing in and get a few minutes with our kid before saying goodbye for three (ish) weeks. After three weeks they get shipped to their prep school by CGA and that school will let you know when their particular Parents Weekend is. (It is typically one weekend in the Fall). We were able to intercept our daughter on arrival at GMC to help get her moved into the dorm room in late July. Some parents can swing that and some can't.
What we found a bit challenging (at least for planning purposes) for attending two schools in a short amount of time is the different lists of items the schools require/allow. You'll see what I mean in a few months but for example, CGA will have one sort of white T-shirt required and GMC required a different one. (Crew neck vs. v neck). Tube socks v. crew socks. Blue towels are okay in one place but white required at the other... its a bit maddening at times to recall which place was needing/allowing which items and hoping it all landed where it needed to when it needed to. If you or your student are driving to CGA and or Prep school or if your kid has a car, this will hopefully be less of a hassle.
The three weeks at CGA your kid will be without electronics so you'll not hear from them much unless they write letters. Our daughter was so exhausted that we heard very little from her. That's entirely normal. Its nerve wracking but trust me, they'll learning and growing in ways you can't imagine. You'll all be fine and so will she! Good luck!
I googled the CGA Calendar of Events and it looks like the Prep School orientation at CGA will run from 11JUL-28JUL. Can someone provide some info about what the day of "drop off" will be like? Will we be able to spend any time with our DD at the Academy before we leave her?
Also, how often are Parents Weekends at the prep schools?
This will be our first child leaving home for school. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for what that drop off will be like... I'm already feeling a little emotional just thinking about it.
I googled the CGA Calendar of Events and it looks like the Prep School orientation at CGA will run from 11JUL-28JUL. Can someone provide some info about what the day of "drop off" will be like? Will we be able to spend any time with our DD at the Academy before we leave her?
Also, how often are Parents Weekends at the prep schools?
This will be our first child leaving home for school. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for what that drop off will be like... I'm already feeling a little emotional just thinking about it.
I googled the CGA Calendar of Events and it looks like the Prep School orientation at CGA will run from 11JUL-28JUL. Can someone provide some info about what the day of "drop off" will be like? Will we be able to spend any time with our DD at the Academy before we leave her?
Also, how often are Parents Weekends at the prep schools?
This will be our first child leaving home for school. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for what that drop off will be like... I'm already feeling a little emotional just thinking about it.
Great info from Westcoaster. I'll add a little more from my perspective last July. Drop-off day is one of those memories that will stick with me forever because it was just so significant. We are from Texas and drove to CT. We left a week early so we could stop along the way and try and have some family fun on the way (Hot Springs, Nashville, etc), but agree arriving early is a good idea to adjust to the time zone, drive around get more familiar with New London and the surrounding area. If you know your son or daughter will be going to NAPS in Newport and you haven't been yet - also a good time to spend an afternoon looking around that area.
We tried to make every moment count on the Sunday before and ended up staying up way too late at the hotel. We had pre-packed her bag already in Texas, but needed to add in some bathroom items and such. Monday morning I think the drop-off at CGA was like 6:00-6:30am for her group (organized by prep school). We left the hotel, drove to Starbucks to get her a breakfast sandwich and then drove over to CGA. After entering the gates in a matter of literally a few minutes, she was out of the van with her bag and checking in. I knew this was going to happen, but it still was so abrupt and quick because you will not talk to your kid until after swearing in about lunchtime for 15 minutes.
Between drop off and the swearing in ceremony CGA had several different things planned for the parents. There was a Q&A, a couple of presentations, breakfast and time to walk around the campus and visit the NEX. One of my most vivid memories is I saw my daughter twice during this period marching around campus with "eyes in the boat" holding her water bottle under her arm looking already totally transformed and military-like in just a couple of hours. The swearing in ceremony was amazing and totally moving. My husband, older daughter and I all had planned not to shed any tears there because we wanted to be strong and keep it light and positive for her, but the ceremony is just so moving especially during the National anthem. I looked at both of them during the National anthem and all 3 of us had tears in our eyes. After the swearing in, the cadet candidates march outside the auditorium and then they release the parents/family to go find your C/C for the 15 minutes. It is a crazy circus as everyone goes outside to find their kid.
Those 15 minutes are so precious. Her smile and laughter when we found her was the best. I read somewhere to bring a drink and a light snack for this time is a good idea. She quickly ate and drank while telling us lots of stories. I remember they gave us a 5 minute warning before they had to say goodbye. Lots of hugs, pictures and videos are taken. I remember looking around and there are just so many different reactions going on between kids and families -- some smiling and laughing while others are sobbing and super emotional. You will not talk to your kid again until the day they head to their prep school. My daughter went to NAPS and called us when she got on the bus. You can send letters but likely will not receive any back because they have no time and are exhausted during this time period.
There is only one Parents Weekend at NAPS and it was mid-September. It was an amazing 3 day experience. The best part was the announcement they would have overnight liberty on that Saturday night so she could stay at the hotel with us. It was the first time to see our daughter in her dress uniform in person which takes your breath away. Because NAPS is on a naval base, parents have to gain clearance to come on base. Visits can happen if you want to come visit at other times. For families that live close to NAPS, parents visit quite often. So far it has been a mixed bag whether they have liberty on the weekends. Sometimes they cannot leave base and sometimes they can. They've had overnight liberty on the weekends a couple of times so far. They've also had their weekend liberty taken away so it does make planning a little tricky.
Please reach out with any questions. I'm happy to help share whatever I can. Best wishes!